Just_here_for_the_day wrote:
2) It was always "suggested" - even required - that Gary would be required to take a specific route. It's in the rules.
3) Laz may or may not be a shithead. I've met him and I think he's a great guy. I hope you have met him and used your own personal experiences with him to make that judgement - not just from a netflix movie or a tweet.
6) There aren't vague, hidden check points. The checkpoints are quite clear. And they aren't hidden if you follow the route.
Take care.
So, if you saw a person being interviewed on TV etc., and they came across as a real aszhole, you'd reserve judgement until you met them in person? Give me a break.
I'd also like to know why so many people get lost on the clearly marked course and have a seemingly impossible time finding the books? And why is getting lost such a huge selling feature for the race and how hard it is if people aren't meant to get lost on the very clear course they are to take?
I'm not sure what's going on here. I get that some people are being overly caustic, but the defence of Laz and his race are kinda insane. It's like the people defending him are describing something totally different than any race report, interview, documentary etc. If the route is so clear and easy, are you saying the people who enter Barkley's are all under some sort of disability?
His event is unconventional and until the people came along defending it on here, it seemed clear that it being unconventional was the main point. He starts it with an hour warning conch at different times each year and then by lighting a cigarette, you have to find hidden books (many don't) etc. etc. It's an entertaining unconventional challenge that a very small percentage of the population want to try. When did it stop being that?
I should say that while there are many reasons I would not participate in this event, the most offensive part for me is that he starts it by lighting a cigarette and asking that repeat participants bring him a pack of cigarettes. Cigarettes cause cancer and you may like Laz, but I think he's an idiot just for this reason alone. I don't care if he wants to smoke himself to death, he can kill himself anyway he likes, just don't make his addiction part of an endurance event and ask others to encourage him by providing him with cigarettes. That's just messed up. But, from what I've seen, Laz is a messed up dude. Sorry he interviews so poorly. I'm sure in real life he's a great guy who just hides it well on TV.